[DPK]⋙ PDF The Prayer Box A Carolina Heirlooms Novel Lisa Wingate 9781414386881 Books

The Prayer Box A Carolina Heirlooms Novel Lisa Wingate 9781414386881 Books

Download As PDF : The Prayer Box A Carolina Heirlooms Novel Lisa Wingate 9781414386881 Books

The Prayer Box A Carolina Heirlooms Novel Lisa Wingate 9781414386881 Books

Great book with the added bonus of 2 stories, blended nicely together as you read Iola Poole's letter's from the past and follow Tandi Reese's life in the present. Both stories are compelling and interesting in their own unique way, but the way they work together in the book is amazing.
Tandi is a down on her luck single-mom whose life has been a whole lot of heartache. She's on the run from an abusive husband and flat-broke. Her kids are used to fending for themselves for the most part and their relationship with Tandi is shallow at best. You can feel the despair and desperation in her situation right from the beginning.
Iola Poole was a lovely woman who didn't understand many wrongs that had been done to her throughout her life. She was sent away from her home and family at a young age to live at a Catholic home for orphans and overheard some ladies call her an "anathema" which means curse or something to be shunned. It took many years before she'd realize why they would say that about her, and even afterwards the sting of rejection from her own family would be something she carried. Hiding her true identity of who she was from her neighbors, and even her husband for a time, was something she bore alone. However, she found solace in her letters, written to Father, that she placed in prayer boxes. Those prayer boxes are the treasure that Tandi will find, years later, and slowly begin to piece together Iola's secret.
What Tandi discovers is an amazing woman, with a great capacity to give, anonymously, to meet the needs of those in her community and beyond. Even when many treated her poorly because they did not understand her true heritage, she never stopped praying and giving generously, even up to her death.
What happens and how it all pulls together makes for a great story. Tandi learns a lot of hard lessons along the way, but with the help of some people who treat her compassionately and genuinely care about her well-being, she grows stronger and is able to stand on her own two feet.
An excellent read that will grab you and engross you throughout the entire book!


Tags : The Prayer Box (A Carolina Heirlooms Novel) [Lisa Wingate] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b>ECPA Christian Book Award Finalist, </b><b>Christy Award Finalist, </b><b>Christianity Today Book Award Finalist!</b><div> <span><span><b> </b><b>THE PRAYER BOX is a masterpiece </b>of story and skill.<b> </b></span><span><span>-- <b>Debbie Macomber</b></span>,Lisa Wingate,The Prayer Box (A Carolina Heirlooms Novel),Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,1414386885,Christian - General,Christian fiction,Christian fiction.,Elderly women;Fiction.,Love stories,Love stories.,American Novel And Short Story,Contemporary Women,FICTION Christian General,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Romance Contemporary,FICTION Women,Fiction,Fiction - Religious,FictionHistorical - General,FictionRomance - Contemporary,FictionWomen,Hatteras Island (N.C.),Historical - General,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),christian fiction;christian historical fiction;outer banks setting;epistolary fiction;tourist spot;historical home;chick lit;book club read;womens issues;a carolina heirlooms novel;family drama;connecting with the past;self sufficiency;starting over;new life;sisterhood;friendships;tight knit community;light romance;confidence;healing;self worth;small town;mysterious recluse;life lessons;journeys of faith;answered prayer;talking to god;epistolary;inspirational,life lessons; tourist spot; historical home; chick lit; book club read; womens issues; a carolina heirlooms novel; family drama; connecting with the past; self sufficiency; starting over; new life; sisterhood; friendships; tight knit community; light romance; confidence; healing; self worth; small town; mysterious recluse; journeys of faith; answered prayer; talking to god; epistolary; inspirational; christian fiction; christian historical fiction; outer banks setting; epistolary fiction,Contemporary Women,FICTION Christian General,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Romance Contemporary,FICTION Women,FictionHistorical - General,FictionRomance - Contemporary,FictionWomen,Historical - General,Fiction - Religious,American Novel And Short Story,Hatteras Island (N.C.),Fiction,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)

The Prayer Box A Carolina Heirlooms Novel Lisa Wingate 9781414386881 Books Reviews

Tandi Reese needs a hiding place, but she never expected it to come in the form of Iola Anne Poole's rambling mansion on the Outer Banks. Yet when tasked with cleaning out Iola's house after the older woman dies, Tandi discovers a story that will lead her to stability, faith, and new hope.

Tandi is a complex and engaging protagonist and narrator. Much like a real person, there are things to like about her, such as her intelligence and resilience, and things you hope will change, such as her hands-off parenting and tendency to glom onto men who do anything but appreciate and love her. Perhaps that's why it's so gratifying to see her form a sisterhood with the Seashell Shop women, get to know Paul Chastain, and build a life on Hatteras after the definition of a troubled life.

Iola, for her part, is a compelling deuterotagonist. In fact, she made me wish Lisa Wingate wrote historical fiction, because her story is just as interesting as Tandi's. Her prayer box letters are touching and filled with deep faith, despite her own travails, such as being banished to a convent school for her mixed-race heritage. Because Iola's part of the novel is epistolary and not as consistent as Tandi's, I felt like I missed out on getting to know this character, but it wasn't a turn-off because the historical and contemporary stories mesh together well.

Lisa rounds out her story with other well-drawn characters such as Paul, a man who doesn't fit the stereotype of a romantic hero but is the kind of guy Tandi needs, and Zoey, a daughter who is deciding whether to follow her mom's path or believe she can be and do better. Finally, I like that the Christian element of The Prayer Box, while present, is not overpowering. You can safely presume Tandi will find faith, but her journey feels authentic, not clichéd. Saying the Sinner's Prayer and going to church, Lisa hints, won't fix everything for Tandi. What will, is finding God--and Christ in Him--and believing who He says she is and always was. I love how Iola, through her prayer box, had an opportunity to teach Tandi this.
I want to start by saying that I am a woman of faith but have become ever so weary (and wary) of the wave of "christian" fiction that has been released in droves the past few years. Most of it is either trite, formulaic, unoriginal, preachy, etc.
It has become a big deal for me when I find an inspirational book (because ultimately that is what a "christian" book should do--inspire people) that is beautifully written and properly edited.
The Prayer Box is all that and ever so much more. I was pulled into the world Ms. Wingate created right from the start. I WANTED to be in Tandi's world and was truly hoping against hope that she could be the person she always hoped she would be.
The way Iola's story was told filled me with such love and admiration for her as a person and real sorrow for the wounds and injustices inflicted upon her. I was inspired by her simple and heartfelt letters to her beloved father. I was moved and inspired by her selfless acts of love and concern for the very people and community that shunned (and even reviled) her. Thinking on her beautiful spirit and lonely, anonymous death broke my heart. I wonder how many Iola's I have missed--we all have missed--in our busy, insulated, unmindful lives?
This book was a rare treat and I am ever so grateful for the author's gift of storytelling. I didn't want the book to end because I felt so very connected to the entire cast of characters. There are people whose redemption is still in the future--what is to come of them? I so hope there will be more books from the outer banks and Ms. Wingate. It's a real joy to have loved every page of this book and been inspired AND challenged by so many of them. I have printed several excerpts from the book and put them in my journal to reflect on as they speak to where I am in life's voyage.
I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this story.
Great book with the added bonus of 2 stories, blended nicely together as you read Iola Poole's letter's from the past and follow Tandi Reese's life in the present. Both stories are compelling and interesting in their own unique way, but the way they work together in the book is amazing.
Tandi is a down on her luck single-mom whose life has been a whole lot of heartache. She's on the run from an abusive husband and flat-broke. Her kids are used to fending for themselves for the most part and their relationship with Tandi is shallow at best. You can feel the despair and desperation in her situation right from the beginning.
Iola Poole was a lovely woman who didn't understand many wrongs that had been done to her throughout her life. She was sent away from her home and family at a young age to live at a Catholic home for orphans and overheard some ladies call her an "anathema" which means curse or something to be shunned. It took many years before she'd realize why they would say that about her, and even afterwards the sting of rejection from her own family would be something she carried. Hiding her true identity of who she was from her neighbors, and even her husband for a time, was something she bore alone. However, she found solace in her letters, written to Father, that she placed in prayer boxes. Those prayer boxes are the treasure that Tandi will find, years later, and slowly begin to piece together Iola's secret.
What Tandi discovers is an amazing woman, with a great capacity to give, anonymously, to meet the needs of those in her community and beyond. Even when many treated her poorly because they did not understand her true heritage, she never stopped praying and giving generously, even up to her death.
What happens and how it all pulls together makes for a great story. Tandi learns a lot of hard lessons along the way, but with the help of some people who treat her compassionately and genuinely care about her well-being, she grows stronger and is able to stand on her own two feet.
An excellent read that will grab you and engross you throughout the entire book!